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World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII 1939 1945



Remembering those who died this day.

  • Abrahams Aleck. Sgt. (d.21st Jan 1944)
  • Berry Thomas George . Sergeant (d.21st Jan 1944 )
  • Brown Victor R .
  • Clark D. S. . W/Cdr
  • Dawson Raymond. P/O (d.21st Jan 1944)
  • Devine E. J.. Sgt. (d.21st Jan 1944)
  • Dudley R.. F/Sgt. (d.21st Jan 1944)
  • Huntley William. Sgt. (d.21st Jan 1944)
  • Hutton Wallace Kenneth. F/O. (d.21st Jan 1944)
  • Jolley Joseph Vincent. L/Cpl. (d.21st Jan 1944)
  • Lowery John Alfred. Pte. (d.21st January 1944)
  • Marsh P. A.. F/Sgt. (d.21st Jan 1944)
  • Martin F. . Sgt. (d.21st Jan 1944)
  • Parsley W. A.. WO2 (d.21st Jan 1944 )
  • Paul Jack Hastings. Sgt. (d.21st Jan 1944)
  • Peasgood George. W/O (d.21st Jan 1944)
  • Pinder Charles Alan . Sergeant (d.21st Jan 1944 )
  • Rapere Nelson John. F/Sgt. (d.21st Jan 1944)
  • Renton Dennis . Flight Sergeant (d.21st Jan 1944)
  • Roberts F. J.. F/L (d.21st Jan 1944)
  • Roberts Frank James. Flt.Lt (d.21st Jan 1944)
  • Summers Andrew Bernard. Sgt. (d.21st Jan 1944)
  • Williams Harold William . Sergeant (d.21st Jan 1944 )
  • Young G.. F/Sgt. (d.21st Jan 1944)

The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List



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Want to know more about the 21st of January 1944?


There are:22 items tagged 21st of January 1944 available in our Library

  These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War.




Stories from 21st January 1944





Flt.Lt Frank James Roberts. DFC. Royal Air Force, 97 Sqd.. (d.21st Jan 1944)

I am a researcher for the Aircrew Remembrance Society, and I specialise in researching Australian, Canadian and New Zealand airmen. I am at present researching Lancaster JB299 OF-W of R.A.F. 97 Squadron, piloted by Frank Roberts. We always like to add a photograph of the crew and of course the aircraft the crews flew in. I am wondering if anyone might have a photograph which we could place with the report on this Lancaster. We always give full credit for photographs and information received. If anyone can assist us it would be much appreciated.

Bob Wilton



W/O George Peasgood. Royal Air Force, 550 Sqd.. (d.21st Jan 1944)

I have been doing some research and it seems that my second cousin, George Peasgood, was a pilot in 550 Squadron, flying from North Killingholme. He died in January 1944. He is buried in Holland at Venray War Cemetery along with his crewmates
  • F/S W.P.Morris RCAF,
  • F/S S.J.Richards,
  • Sgt S.J.L.Jones,
  • Sgt P.P.Clarkin
. One man, Sgt S.Sykes survived and was taken POW.

John Hibberd



WO2 W. A. Parsley . Royal Canadian Air Force , 97 Squadron. (d.21st Jan 1944 )

Air Gunners in Training.

My uncle Billy Parsley, was a air gunner with 97 Squadron RAF. He was killed along with the whole crew of their Lancaster JB299 OF-W, on 21st January 1944, all are buried in the Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery.

  • F/L F.J.Roberts DFC /li>
  • Sgt E.J.Devine href="http://www.wartimememories.co.uk/allied/royalairforce/97sqd-raf.html#Parsley">Read his Story
  • F/S G.Young DFM
  • Sgt F.Martin
  • F/S P.A.Marsh RAAF
  • WO2 W.A.Parsley RCAF

I believe the photo is of the air gunners at training. I m not sure when or where it was taken.

John Potts



Sgt. William Huntley. Royal Air Force, 77 Sqd.. (d.21st Jan 1944)

This photograph of his crew has been sent to me by the only surviving member (Ernie Gumm) Top to bottom: Sgt Harold Williams, Sgt Charles Pinder, Sgt Ernie Gumm, Sgt William Huntley, Sgt Thomas Berry and mascot Zola.

My uncle William Huntley was in the RAF and was based at Elvington in Yorkshire. Details below of the mission and crew of only which one survived. The dead are buried in the Berlin War Cemetery. William Huntley was Killed in action 21st January 1944 aged 19 years. They took off at 20:10 hours in aircraft JD471 KN-A on ops to Magdeburg

  • Lyon, Aubrey Kenneth Lawson, Flight Sergeant, (pilot) 1320186 -killed.
  • Sergeant Charles Alan Pinder (flight engineer) 1623092 - killed.
  • Flight Sergeant Dennis Renton (navigator) 1439513 -killed.
  • Sergeant Harold William Williams (b/a) 1336295 -killed.
  • Sergeant E W Gumm (wireless operator) -Prisoner of War.
  • Sergeant Thomas George Berry (mid-upper gunner) 913231 -killed.
  • Sergeant William James Huntley (reargunner) 1890773 -killed.

    John Huntley



Sergeant Thomas George Berry . , 77Sqd . (d.21st Jan 1944 )

flew from Elvington as a mid-upper gunner




Victor R Brown . , 77 Sqd..

Victor Brown served as a pilot with 77 squadron.




W/Cdr D. S. Clark . , 77 Sqd..

Wind Cmdr Clark was C.O. of 77 Sqd. from Sept to Dec 1944




Sergeant Charles Alan Pinder . , 77 Sqd. . (d.21st Jan 1944 )

Charles Pinder was a flight engineer with 77Sqd he was killed on 21st January 1944 on Ops flying from RAF Elvington..




Flight Sergeant Dennis Renton . , 77 Sqd.. (d.21st Jan 1944)

Dennis Renton was a navigator with 77Sqd killed on 21st January 1944 on Ops.




Sergeant Harold William Williams . , 77Sqd . (d.21st Jan 1944 )

Harold Williams served with 77Sqd he was killed on 21st January 1944 on Ops, flying from RAF Elvington.




F/Sgt. Nelson John Rapere. Royal Air Force, 35 Sqd.. (d.21st Jan 1944)

My mother was married to Nelson John Rapere, an RAF F/Sgt who died on the bombing run to Magdeberg. He along with three other crew members, were killed after their aircraft was intercepted by a night fighter. It was Halifax Mk.III HX324. Three other crew members became POW's and survived the war. Two went to Australia. I am searching for information about Nelson Rapere: photos, family members, anything. We only have the marriage certificate and his death announcement. I also am interested in any information about that fateful day. Thanks for any help you can give.

Sue Curzon



F/O. Wallace Kenneth Hutton. Royal Air Force, . (d.21st Jan 1944)

Ken Hutton, my father's cousin and hero, was born in Beaconsfield, Tasmania in 1921. He grew up into a tall, handsome, smart and extremely successful athlete who won Australia's most prestigious running race, the Stawell Gift, in 1941. He joined the RAF soon after, at the age of 21. Once in England he piloted a Lancaster bomber of 5 Group with his crew including 3 other Australians - Geoff Breaden,Ron Walker and Alan McInnes. 2 Englishmen "Taffy" Lightfoot and Ron Easton and an Irishman, James "Paddy" Houston.

On 8th of January 1944 he married Gabrielle Savage, a WAAF, whom he had met when she drove the men out to their planes each night. After a brief honeymoon he returned to duty.

Less than two weeks after his wedding, on the night of 21st of January 1944, he was part of a huge mission to Magdeburg, Germany. During the flight the plane was shot at by a Focke Wulf 190 nightfighter. On the first burst the two left side engines were hit. The nightfighter then turned around and on the second turn the two gunners (Easton and Walker)were killed. Damage was massive and Ken ordered a bailout, staying at the controls to give the other men a chance to jump. All 4 jumped clear and were taken prisoner after being attacked and nearly killed by local Germans.

Ken is officially said to have died in the plane crash. However, one of his crew members believes that he landed safely in his parachute and died at the hands of the Germans. His mother is said to have never recovered from the loss. He left behind many heart-broken aunts, uncles, cousins, brother and parents, as well as his new wife, Gay.

My father died 2 years ago. In my living memory, I never saw him speak of Ken without becoming emotional. As I write now, I can remember so clearly his lip trembling, and a tear forming in one eye. It was a bitter loss for a young boy. Remembering Ken is part of me honouring my father's grief. I am also so aware that many of these men died at such a young age that they didn't have their own children or grandchildren to carry on their memory, and so I do this in my father's name too.

An interesting aspect of this story is that after the war, Ken's widow Gay, came to Australia to meet her in-laws, staying for a couple of years. Dad was in awe of her. A few years later she re-married but she remained close to her Hutton in-laws, with visits between the families over the years. In the 90s her husband David researched and built a model of the ship that had brought the Hutton ancestors out to Australia in the 1850s which he gave to my father and I now have. At my own wedding, David sent out to Australia, as gifts, two beautiful silver-plated dishes that had been handmade by Gay before she developed Alzheimers. She has passed away now.




Sgt. Aleck Abrahams. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve , 76 Squadron. (d.21st Jan 1944)

Alexander Abrahams was born on 3rd of April 1921 in Blackwood, Monmouthshire to Ephraim and Esther Abrahams. Alec was the penultimate of 13 children. All 6 of his brothers enlisted in the Army but Alec was the only one who joined the RAF and the only one who did not return.

In Sept/Oct 1942, Alec was on a navigation and bombers course in Grahamstown in South Africa. He met a young woman called Beatrice from Cape Town and they fell in love. It was Alec's intention to return to after the war, marry Beatrice and settle down in South Africa. Sadly, this was not to be and when Alec's letters to his intended ceased, sadly she never knew of his fate.

In 1943 Alec was posted to 1663 Heavy Conversion Unit at RAF Rufford in Yorkshire. On the evening of 26th Nov 1943, Alec's crew were:

  • Sgt Colin Walker (Pilot)
  • Sgt Frederick Hughes (Flight Eng from Liverpool)
  • Sgt John Sutherland (Navigator, RCAF from New York City)
  • Sgt Peter Carmino Gizzi (Wireless Op/AG from Rhyl, Wales)
  • Sgt Kenneth Charles Southward (Air Gunner)
  • Sgt George Armstrong Shield from Northumberland, (Air Gunner)

flew out on Halifax EB183 from Rufforth airfield. In the process of taking off at 20.00 hrs to undertake a training flight, as the aircraft picked up speed on the runway, a swing developed. The plane left the runway, crossed the grass and struck a pile of rubble which removed the Halifax's undercarriage. Two members of the crew sustained minor injuries (Sgt Walker and Sgt Shield). A couple of months after this incident, on 8 January 1944, the crew were assigned to 76 Squadron at Holme on Spalding Moor in Yorkshire.

At 20.00 hours on 20th of January 1944, the same crew flew from their base in a Halifax V LL.185 (G) on what was to be their first and last operation for 76 Squadron. Their mission was to bomb Magdeburg. Tragically, on its return journey home, the plane crashed into the North Sea west of Walcheren, Holland. The Ops sheet read: "Aircraft missing. Last message received at 04.45 hours (21 Jan) that the aircraft was being ditched. No further news" It turned out to be a terrible night for 76 Squadron with a total of 5 aircraft lost.

My Uncle's body sadly remained in the water until 2nd of May. He would have been 24 on 3rd of April. His body was washed up at a beach near Horntje and he is buried in Den Burg cemetery on Texel Island, Holland. Sgt Fred Hughes was washed up on the beach at Wissekerke on 16th of March and is buried in Kamperland General Cemetery in Zeeland, Holland. The other five members of the crew have no known graves and are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

On Sunday 16th of January 1944, just days before Alec Abrahams died, he wrote to his sister Fay from the Sgts Mess at Holme-on-Spalding Moor. This was a very new camp for Alec. In the letter he describes the long journey he had by train from Blackwood, via Newport to the camp in Yorkshire. He also said he had completed the News of the World crossword with just two words wrong so he was pleased with his effort as he "had not done that crossword for a long time"! He said his new camp had "several snags - the food was not as good as at the previous camp (RAF Rufforth) and transport facilities for getting to town were very bad. However, he said he "had got organised and everything is OK this end. Cheerio, (signed) Alec". Five days later he was dead.

If anyone knows or is related to any of these brave men, I would love to hear from you. So far I have been able to track down Peter Gizzi's relatives.

Esther Harrod



Sgt. Jack Hastings Paul. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 405 Squadron. (d.21st Jan 1944)

Jack Hastings served as an Air Gunner, he was the son of John James Paul and Jennie Paul of Portswood, Southampton.

Caroline Harvey



L/Cpl. Joseph Vincent Jolley. MiD. British Army, 8th Btn. Royal Fusiliers. (d.21st Jan 1944)

Joseph Vincent Jolley died in the first Battle of Monte Cassino, aged 21 years.

Janet Forsdyke










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